MLA discusses pressure on Hospital Services with Trust

MLA, Justin McNulty MLA has met with the Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust Steven McNally and Clinical Director of Medicine Dr Gareth Hampton. The Newry and Armagh representative discussed  pressures facing services locally with Waiting times in the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital, especially over Christmas and the New Year period one of the key issues. Mr McNulty also added that it was reassuring to hear during discussions that it is "set down in stone that there will be a 24/7 Emergency Department in Daisy Hill.’’

"This Winter we have seen an extraordinary pressure on our health service, and attendances at the Emergency Departments in Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospital continues to rise.  We need to see those departments and the wards that serve them appropriately staffed with additional resources provided to meet the demand.

"The community have the utmost respect and admiration for our medical staff and those who work in our hospitals. We all recognise how the medical teams in Daisy Hill and Craigavon Hospitals go above and beyond the call of duty whilst working under extraordinary pressures.  It is up to Department of Health to ensure that our hospitals and services are adequately resourced.

The MLA added "In addition to this we discussed the outworking of the Pathfinder process on the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill.  This is a very important piece of work.  I look forward to it being formally adopted and approved by the Southern Trust Board next week and have asked for an implementation plan to swiftly follow that adoption.

Mr McNulty concluded "The pressures on our Emergency Departments and the staff that work in them is constant, and this winter has yet again proven the argument we have been making on how essential a 24/7 Emergency Department at Daisy Hill in Newry is to the people of Newry, South Armagh and South Down. It was very encouraging and reassuring to hear Stephen McNally reaffirming that it is ‘set down in stone that there will be a 24/7 Emergency Department in Daisy Hill.’’